President Obama’s reluctance to wage more failed wars in the Middle East is understandable, and in any case, the ultimate solutions to the crises in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and elsewhere in the Middle East do not rest solely with the United States. Yes, people want to be assured about their security, but they also need to be reminded of the facts, and of their perceived moral obligation. But the public sees itself as moral (guided by the Golden Rule), it sees an American responsibility in the terrible events that have led to the Middle East refugee crises, and it exaggerates the link between terrorism and refugees. This is particularly true in times of real threats, the likes of which we witnessed in San Bernardino and, two weeks after this poll was taken, Orlando. Of course, security concerns will always be paramount to most Americans, and political leaders must address these issues first and foremost. Here, some of the blame may rest with political leadership. It’s all the more surprising that nearly half of the American public doesn’t see in this a moral obligation to help refugees from Syria and, to a slightly lesser extent, Iraq. presidential campaign, the blame for the failed Iraq war and its consequences has rested with American presidents. The upshot is that even in the midst of the political polarization in the U.S. Bush for the war, many Republicans blame President Obama for his decision to withdraw most American forces in 2011, and Donald Trump blames both. In fact, even in the middle of our political campaign, the public and politicians attribute the U.S.-led war in Iraq and its consequences to bad decisions by U.S. This last point goes beyond a humanitarian obligation, as it ties events for which the United States was at least partly responsible to the refugee crises. Third, and perhaps more importantly, a majority of Americans believe that the Iraq war played a significant role in the events leading to the Syrian refugee crisis, while only 11 percent said it played no role. Second, in a separate question about American attitudes toward the Golden Rule (spelled out as treating others as you want them to treat you), over 80 percent of Americans, across party lines, said this is either extremely important in their lives or the single most important principle in their lives (ranking it 8-10 on a scale of 0-10). First, it’s noteworthy that this question was simply about “helping” refugees, not about accepting them into the United States-something that inevitably triggers security fears among many. But only 49 percent of Americans feel they have a moral responsibility to help Libyan refugees, 51 percent for Syrian refugees, and 54 percent for Iraqi refugees. They are of course split along party lines again, and millennials are more willing to claim moral responsibility than the rest. Americans are far more divided on accepting moral responsibility to help Middle East war refugees. The actual number is 3.īut there is another side to the story. When asked to estimate the number of refugees charged with terrorism since 9/11, only 14 percent say it’s fewer than five, while 28 percent estimate it to be 100 or more. Yet, Americans overestimate the terrorist threat emanating from refugees. This majority could be larger, if it weren’t for exaggerated fears: A plurality of those who oppose receiving Middle East war refugees (46 percent) name concern about terrorism as the principal reason. Among Trump supporters, only 22 percent are supportive, compared with 80 percent of Clinton supporters and 81 percent of Sanders’. Not surprisingly, and as on many other issues, there is a deep divide across party lines, with 77 percent of Democrats expressing openness compared to 56 percent of Independents and 38 percent of Republicans. These numbers increase dramatically among millennials (18 to 34 year olds), with 68 percent saying that they are supportive of taking in refugees from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. presidential campaign that has been breathtaking in its exaggerations and racism, with devastating terrorism providing fuel, 59 percent of Americans say they are ready to accept Middle East conflict refugees, and 56 percent express openness to Syrian refugees specifically. First, there’s good news for those looking for signs of American compassion.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |